Shared electric scooters operate in Indianapolis under a city license issued by Department of Public Works, requiring sidewalk parking compliance, geofencing on the Cultural Trail and Monon Trail, and a 15 mph speed limit on streets.
After the unregulated 2018 launch by Bird and Lime, Indianapolis adopted a shared mobility ordinance (Ord. 87-2018) creating an annual license, fleet caps, and operational rules. Scooters cannot ride on the Cultural Trail or sidewalks within the Mile Square downtown, and operators must geofence riders to walking speed. Riding requires age 16+, helmets are recommended but not mandated for adults, and parking must keep five-foot pedestrian clearways. DPW collects per-trip fees funding bike infrastructure. Active operators include Bird, Lime, and Spin under rotating contracts.
Sidewalk riding in restricted zones triggers automatic ride termination and $20 to $75 platform fines; abandoned or improperly parked scooters generate operator citations of up to $100 per device by DPW.
See how Indianapolis's shared e-scooter rules rules stack up against other locations.
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